Next-to-Skin Considerations

For those considering a new project for someone with wool allergies, knitters considering plant-based yarns or those looking for wool-yarn alternatives, there are so many great options. Here’s our round-up of recommendations.

NON-WOOL FIBER OPTIONS

If your project is a warm weather garment or an accessory for someone with sensitive skin, knitters will love our selection of alpaca, mohair, silk, and blend yarns.

KindredAlpaca CloudSimply AlpacaAndean TreasureAloftLuminance

PLANT-BASED YARNS

Our delightful selection of plant-based yarns are made from smooth cotton and cool linen. We also have a few yarns made from renewable materials, …

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Free Downloadable September 2021 Calendar

Happy September! To celebrate, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these September 2021 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring assorted orange and red yarns.

A taupe background with various orange yarns sticking out at the top of the frame. In the bottom left, a cup of coffee and some knitting needles. A September 2021 calendar.

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo and then save it!

Free September 2021 Wallpaper for Desktop:

A taupe background with various orange yarns sticking out at the top of the frame. In the bottom left, a cup of coffee and some knitting ...
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Oh Baby!

Inspiration for beautiful baby projects knit in some of our favorite baby yarns.

Cotlin is a cool and lightweight Tanguis cotton and summer linen blend perfect for summer knit for children and adults. Tanguis (tan-gwiss) cotton has a very soft hand, excellent absorption and, because it is a naturally white fiber, a high affinity for dyes. The knit fabric will get softer with each wash too.

Romper pattern by Debbie Bliss

(Knit in Cotlin Flamingo)

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Designer Spotlight: Margaret Holzmann

Margaret Holzmann likes to design and knit the BIG things: blankets, throws and sweaters.

She uses these larger items as a canvas for colorwork, shapes, and texture. She excels at construction techniques, the geometry of knitting, and color theory. Following a career as an engineer at Bell Labs and Jet Propulsion Laboratory, she is now a full-time knit designer living in Monrovia, California, and her patterns have appeared in multiple knitting publications.

Read more about Margaret Holzmann on her website theknitwit.org. If you’re an aspiring designer you’ll want to check out her advice on asking for yarn support, how tos on writing an arts & crafts book, and her thoughts on self-publishing verses big publishers, all available on her blog.

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 347 – Learning & Teaching Yarn Crafts

Today on the Knit Picks Podcast we’re talking all about our knitting pasts and futures. From learning to knit to taking that knowledge and teaching someone to knit, the Knit Picks Podcast team offers up their experience.

First up Lee and Stacey invite friends, co-workers and fellow crafters, Heather and Kate to come on the podcast for a discussion of their knitting and crochet origins. Each starts their craft somewhere but what everyone has in common is that someone else helped them get started.

Next Lee and Stacey share tips and tricks for people who want to teach knitting to their friends and family. While Lee has experience teaching knitting classes, Stacey has experience helping people in one-on-one learning sessions. Stacey also shares …

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Brava Minis: Bite-sized Skeins for Bitty Projects

We love Brava, our 100% Premium Acrylic yarn. Gentle enough for sensitive skin, Brava is hard-wearing yarn that works wonders for projects where durability and easy-care is a must. Hypoallergenic and machine washable, there is no fiber more accessible and dependable than acrylic, perfect for children, new knitters, and charity projects. Brava is now available in tiny individual skeins: Brava Mini singles!

Sample the Brava rainbow with these mini skeins: perfect for swatching, small projects, toys—whatever your heart desires! Single skeins make it so convenient to get small amounts of yarn for colorwork projects and more.

Hands holding small balls of Brava yarn

Projects to Make with Brava Minis:

A wall hanging knitted in brown and black, with long fringe Read more »



Free Downloadable August 2021 Calendar

Happy August! To celebrate, we have your free monthly calendar wallpapers. Enjoy these August 2021 wallpaper images (free download for you!) — featuring assorted yellow and green yarns.

A top-down view of a tablecloth with assorted houseplants and yellow yarn, along with an August 2021 calendar.

How to get the Wallpaper:

To get the free downloadable calendar background of your choice (smart phones, tablets, or desktop computers), simply click on the image of your choice to go to the full-size photo and then save it!

Free August 2021 Wallpaper for Desktop:

A top-down view of a tablecloth with assorted houseplants and yellow yarn, along with an August 2021 calendar.

Free August 2021 Wallpaper for Tablet:

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Late Summer News: Felici. Is. Back.

A circle of colorful Felici self-striping sock yarns

The sun is just about to start setting on this sweltering summer season (at least for us folks in the northern hemisphere), but don’t worry. There’s still time to partake in a few lazy afternoon picnics in the park accompanied by your current WIP, or as I like to call them, pic-knits. If you’re looking for a little fiber/pattern inspo to ride out the dog days with, read on!

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Meet Zoey Baggins, our new Influencer Marketing Outreach Coordinator

I’m absolutely delighted to be part of the incredible Digital Team at Knit Picks. For decades, I’ve been passionate about fiber arts and am constantly seeking out new skills, supplies, and epic adventures. Depending on the season and my interests at any given moment, I knit, crochet, and sew! 

I spend my evenings and weekends crafting as much as I can muster. I’ll grab onto any opportunity to discuss new fabrics or yarns and love to help others find their confidence with craft supplies. 

Rarely found without my Corgi by my side, the two of us fully utilize any bits of free time leftover to hike …

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Knit Picks Podcast Episode 346 – An Ode to Chunky Yarns & Get Excited About Spinning with Michael Smith

While the word “chunky” in relation to yarn is not an official yarn weight class, it is common to refer to thicker yarns, Aran, Bulky, Super Bulky and Jumbo as “Chunky”. Today on the Knit Picks Podcast the team talks about chunky yarns and what to do with them! First up Lee and Stacey check in on their WIPs and discuss projects to knit with Bulky and Super Bulky yarns. Later Lee sits down with Michael Smith aka @piece4peacecrafting to learn more about his knitting and his spinning journey. Lee and Stacey talk about the benefits of working with chunky yarns. Projects knit up faster with chunky yarns but also create a thicker fabric. If you’re new to bulky and super bulky …

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